Missing fisherman found dead in Brunswick pond

BRUNSWICK — The body of a missing fisherman was discovered in a pond in Brunswick this afternoon.

At around 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, rescue crews responded to Big Wheeler Pond to a report of a man who had gone overboard from a boat and was missing.

Emergency workers say they met with Jefferson Elliot, 51, of Epping, New Hampshire, who told them that he and his friend Brian Melton, age 50, also of Epping, had been fishing on Big Wheeler Pond in a small motorized boat at approximately 7:00 p.m. when it began to take on water.

They were unable to make it to shoreline before the boat capsized and both attempted to swim to shore.

Elliot told police after making it shore, he was unable to find Melton. He had to walk out a considerable distance to a phone to be able to contact authorities.

Initial search efforts revealed no sign of Melton, police say. The area was secured by troopers during the night in anticipation of further search efforts to continue in the daylight.

A scuba team responded to the scene this morning and conducted an underwater search of the pond.

At approximately 12:21 p.m. divers located the body of Melton and recovered him.

Police say his body was then transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.